Alright, let's start drawing.

Actually, before we do...

Um, there's something I need to make sure of first. Honami, Emu, you're both supposed to teach the children at a kindergarten how to paint, right?

Yes! I'd like to improve enough to make it so the animals I draw are recognizable to them...!

Right.

Then, Honami, let's make that your primary goal.

Oh! Oh!

I wanna learn more about actually teaching kindergartners how to paint!

Teaching them how to paint...?

Hmm... First, Emu, I sort of need to know what kind of stuff you're able to draw...

So, to start, I'll have you each draw something. After that, Honami, you'll focus on drawing one type of animal. Emu, we can try coming up with ideas for teaching children how to paint.

Also, I brought some art supplies along. Feel free to use whatever you like.

Oh, I got lots and lots of paint and colored pencils ready just for today too! Let's use everything we have!

I really wanna use this one since it's so pretty and sparkly!

Yeah, that is a nice color... Hold on...

I-Is this paint made from lapis lazuli...?!

You usually only get about half the amount of a normal tube, and you have to pay like around 50,000 yen...!

What?!

Emu, why do you have something like that...?

Oh, this really big art supplies store had it, so I decided to get it because of its pretty color. I bought it using my allowance.

So, let's use it all together!

We should be able to draw something really gorgeous with it☆

U-Use it?! Out of the question!

Not something this valuable...!

Huh? But I went through the trouble of buying. It seems like a waste to not use it...

Yeah, I get that... No, that's not the point!

This is watercolor we're talking about here. A pan at that too. Not only is it really difficult to use, you need to have the skill to match to paint effectively with it.

Really...?

So, we won't get to use it today?

Um, well... I'll show you a good website with instructions on how to use it, so why don't you give it a go then?

...!

Okay!

Hehe...

(I thought she'd be sad, but she's smiling from ear to ear. She's definitely a bit strange, but seems really earnest...)

Now, take this paper and draw whatever you two would like. Ready?

Ready!

Humhumhuum♪

(Alright, let's see how Emu's doing... Whoa, she's drawing to the edge of the paper. That's pretty bold of her...)

(It looks like she's drawing a squirrel...

Oh, she's doing a good job with its tail. It looks nice and fluffy.)

(It looks cute and cartoonish too.

I bet kindergartners would love seeing something like this.)

(I've gotta think that Emu's all set to go. On the other hand...)

(Sh-She's frozen up completely...)

Honami, how are you...?

Huh? Y-Yes...!

I, uhh...

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.

I was just wondering how your drawing was coming along...

Oh, um...

I'm so sorry. I haven't gotten much done...

Are you still unsure about what you want to draw?

No, it's just...

Well... This may sound strange after asking you to teach me how to draw...

But I'm incredibly shy about drawing in front of other people...

Huh?

So, because of how I draw... I was laughed at by some boys in my class during elementary school because of something I'd made for arts and crafts...

Luckily, some very good friends of mine stood up for me and told me that I shouldn't let what those boys said bother me.

However, after that incident, I started feeling incredibly uncomfortable drawing in front of other people... I became so afraid of being laughed at again...

Honami...

(That must've been so traumatic...)

(But I sorta get how she feels...

Seeing what you drew get torn to pieces by someone else is hard for anyone.)

(I mean, just look at me.

Being compared to other people and getting severely criticized doesn't exactly feel great...)

(But...)

It's okay, Honami.

Huh...?

Very few people in this world are naturally talented artists. The rest of us have to learn and receive advice from others regarding how to draw.

And I understand why you're scared. So, let's just take it one step at a time. None of us here are going to think less of you because of what you draw.

Yeah, she's right! I'll show what I draw too, so let's do our best together!

Oh...

(They're right...

There's no reason to feel shy here. Today's my chance to practice and get better...!)

Y-You're both right. I'm honestly still a little afraid of drawing, but I'll do my best. So, Ena, if you don't mind...

Of course. I'm here to help.

Thank you!

(Thank goodness. I'm glad that she has a positive outlook.)

(I mean, I was worried about teaching someone else how to draw, but this might actually go pretty...)

Huh...?!

I'll draw this part like this and...!

(She's drawing the insides of something again...!)

(No, I shouldn't liken this to internal organs... How about...? Long rice cakes covered in red bean paste...?)

(Hm? Hmm... The closer I look, the more I'm starting to think that she has some kind of unique talent...)

(I can't honestly tell what she's trying to draw... But it could look really interesting if she were to give it some more color and crop it...)

(No, what am I saying? She said that little kids need to be able to recognize what she draws.)

(Which means I have to teach her so that anyone will be able immediately to see what she drew...!)

I-I'm finished...!

H-How does it look...?

Hmmmm...

(Alright, first of all, I probably shouldn't straight-up ask what it is, so I need to word this carefully...)

Whoa, Honami, you drew a sea cucumber!

You did a really good job♪

*Gasp*

Emu, wait...!

Um... It's supposed to be an elephant...

(Oh, she was trying to draw an elephant...)

I-It doesn't look like one, does it?

I'll try drawing it again and...

No, don't do that!

I really like your elephant!

So please don't erase it!

Huh...? But...

If you're gonna erase it, can I have it instead? I wanna hang it up in my room☆

Oh, Emu...

You're so kind...

(Hehe. Nice follow-up there, Emu.)

So...

As far as I can tell, Honami, you seem to have trouble visualizing the shapes that make up whatever it is that you want to draw.

Visualizing the shapes...?

Yeah. For example, when you actually try drawing what you see in your head on paper, it's pretty common for it to turn out looking completely different to the real thing.

Even good artists do that.

It's easy for someone to draw shadows a lot darker than they really should be.

Really?! I didn't know that!

So, let's start by really looking at your subject's features and doing your best to copy them!

Really looking at my subject's features and copy it...

But... I was actually told the very same thing a long time ago during an art class when we were sketching objects. I'm not sure I can...

Then, why don't we try something simpler?

We can look up some images online, print them out and have you draw their outlines on tracing paper. How does that sound?

...!

Yes, I should be able to handle that!

Great!

Let's try doing that!

Okay!

(We have about half a day to work with...)

(To be honest, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to teach her...)

(But she's trying so hard...

I really want to help her.)